The Penn's Grove record., 1887-04-16
A CABLE CAR ROMANCE.

When James Austin banished young
Jack Starr from his house, declaring
him to be an idle j~ackanape who had
never put his hands to honest work, but
spent his time dawdling about the city,
making love to pretty girls and waiting
for his fathers money, Hetty's fearful
remonstranee passed by u~nheeded.
James Austin was a wise man and cal
eulated upon a certain amount of femi-
nine obstinacy and martyrdom as an
inevitable consequence of his verdict, so
that he was neither surprised nor dis
turbed when his daughter failed to
appear at meal time or sat at the table
and listlessly toyed with her food. lie
observed that she went about the house
looking languid and pale, that she re-
jected her former amusements and
declined to see any but her intimate
friends. But he flattered himself that
he understood the precise effect Of pass
ing sorrow on a youthful temperament.
Melancholy might hold sway for a time,
but q reaction would inevitably come.
The reaction was slow in coming.
The father with his hand on her spirit
ual pulse, watched Miss Hetty as the
lllQ uloltOIo VI Olu NdlCliCO SIlC pr oOllClo
they stretched on the rack, ready to
relax the torture at the first symptom of
exhaustion.
When the end of the fifth week found
her with the same listless manner and
sad face, he prepared to give up the
battle. But the sixth week brought a
marvellous change. From persistently
refusing to go on the streets or take
the fresh air, the girl developed the
most remarkable passion for riding on
the cable road that passed their house,
and returned from these excursions
with a blithe face and cheeks whose
accustomed pallor was replaced by the
faint rose tinge of returning health.
Her father viewed these favorable to-
kens with secret complacency. His
sible a girl to languish her young life
away, mourning over a sentimental
fancy. The reaction had come.
Standing on the doorsteps n day
and regarding her with a fond smile of
paternal pride as she ran lightly down
and signaled a passing car, he noticed
that the number of the dummy was IL.
1t occurred to him that he had observed
the same number on the car that
brought her back the previous day. The
next afternoon he loitered about until
she started out for her regular ride, and
noticed the same coincidence. The
next day and the next he continued to
exercise his vigilance. 1t was always
Number IL.
This Number II became a hideous
lE.-loar - III, rNs.l l. rrafr he frfAl
to reason that its constant recurrence
was purely accidental. A leaden weight
of suspicion accumulated upon his
heart. The cable roads, to be sure, were
the common vehicle for out of-door re-
creation adopted by half the populace.
But why had his daughter never discoy-
cred their attraction before? What did
it mean, this odd prediction for rides
OH the dummy, when her saddle horse
stood in the stable, and the dust gath
cred thick on her little ph&ton? And
why did she return from these excur-
sions with such red cheeks and shining
eyes. Could it be possible that the
lovers had some secret arrangements by
which they met on a certain car, and,
waiting till the outskirts of the city was
reached, roamed together yer the hills
in defiance of his edict?
1t so CHANGED that Mr. Austin was a
stakeholder in this very cable road that
was proving very disastrous to his frame
of mind. A few nights later he strolled
up to the engine house to see Pinchley,
the very efficient superintendent of the
road, a gray-headed man with a wooden
leg and an incorrigible propensity for
practical Jokes, The two were old
friends, and when their business con-
fab was concluded, Austin gazing into
his compartments shrewd and kindly
countenance was prompted to share
with him the anxieties and apprehen-
sions that agitated his mind. Pinchey
listened with an impassiye face. Austin
ended with a helpless summary Of the
situation.
Il assure you, Pinchey, I've hardly
dared to look the child in the face since
the thought come into my head. And
as to ~forbidding Ter to ride in the cars
Lord, mani / wouldn't have the wor-
riment of seeing her again as she has
been these last few weeks, to keep her
from marrying the worst dude in the
country"
Pinchley was business thinking, with
an odd smile lurking around the corners
of his mouth. He was a man of few
words but gifted in resources. "Sup.
pose you board the car in some sort OF
Disguise he suggested.
Worse than ever. If she saw some
one following her about she might sus-
pect | had put a paid detective on her
track" He groaned at the humiliating
thought.
Don't go as a passenger. Present
/ yourself in an official capacity. l really
think" looking at Austin's erect figure
and beardless face, shat you would
make up very well as "a conductor, pro-
viding you'll be sure to mind sharp the
stoppages and passengers getting on and
OFF,